How cells switch off genes to shape development and disease
Structure and Mechanism of Epigenetic Gene Silencing
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO · NIH-11172511
Scientists are mapping how cellular 'switches' that silence genes work, to help people with heart disease and cancer.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11172511 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
I want to understand how the proteins that turn genes off keep my cells behaving like heart or blood cells. Researchers will use high-resolution imaging (cryo-electron microscopy) and chemical tools to visualize how Polycomb complexes (PRC1/PRC2) and DNMT1 bind and modify chromatin. They will combine structural snapshots with biochemical tests to learn how these machines are recruited and activated on DNA. The goal is to explain why gene silencing goes wrong in some heart conditions and cancers and to point toward possible new treatment strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with developmental heart disorders or cancers linked to abnormal epigenetic gene-silencing would be the most relevant group for follow-up studies.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are caused by infections, trauma, or issues unrelated to gene-silencing are unlikely to see direct benefits in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets to correct faulty gene-silencing in heart disease and cancers, guiding future therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous structural and biochemical studies have illuminated parts of PRC and DNMT1 function, but the integrated mechanisms this project targets remain incompletely understood and not yet translated to treatments.
Where this research is happening
Boulder, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO — Boulder, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KASINATH, VIGNESH — UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
- Study coordinator: KASINATH, VIGNESH
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Cancers, Cardiac Diseases, Cardiac Disorders